Madrid, which is one of three cities competing to host the 2020 Olympic Games, "believes the Games will return to the U.S. in 2024," according to Matilla & Jiménez of AS. A U.S. host for the Olympics "is being demanded by NBC, which owns exclusive broadcast rights to the Olympics." NBC's current Olympics contract runs through '20, but "the U.S. hosting would be a good incentive to extend the contract and recover Olympic prestige." In London, NBC "was harshly criticized for delaying the broadcast of the opening ceremonies" (AS, 8/10).
CAUTIOUS CONFIDENCE: The EFE reported former Spanish Secretary of State for Sport Jaime Lissavetzky, who supported previous Madrid Olympic bids, believes that "hosting the Games is within reach for the Madrid 2020 bid." Lissavetsky: "Having it within reach does not mean we have it. No one can say it or joke about it because the three candidates are very similar and they all think the same thing." Lissavetsky "believes that in the final sprint it is best not to look back, believe in the possibilities and block out the rest" (EFE, 8/11).
